We are essentially DOOMED... Unless...

So, I was reading this fantastic book by Michael Foley. Never before have so many philosophical ideas been 'machine gunned' at me in quick yet very tender, digestible proportions(Mmm..chicken). The book is highly recommended for the average (day to day) overtly analytical or observer kinda fellows (Not that I'm either of them...well....)

A rather interesting point made by him- one which I support emphatically (as I see it happening to me / Around me quite so often):

'The positive emotions are capricious day trippers but negative emotions are Imperialists' (Foley)

*What in sweet mercy is capricious you may be asking? Well... Fairplay- I don't know either. But the point here is-

Negative emotions are determined to invade, occupy, overwhelm and subjugate any other puny emotions we may have. Indeed, the key to imperialism is to get the natives do the dirty work (Foley)- so that's why ANGER possesses our ENTIRE being, feeding itself in any possible way, creating infinite justifications to resurrect ancient problems.

Whereas, Positive emotions are butterflies that flit through, alight briefly and fly off. ''Aaaah'...there fly's my happy insect... It'll be back... soon... Till that time I shall devise of new ways of enhancing my anger and disgust. '

So we see- we as human beings have this INNATE IMBALANCE in our core- so we forget Favours quickly but remember the dirty tricks or grudges forever!

When was the last time- I offered gratitude for my Job, security, my family, this wonderful place- Perhaps Never- or ages ago in my Journal. Do I take these things around me for granted- Yes Indeed. Then why can't I take the negative ones for granted as well? So what if someone said something bad on my back- so what someone thinks I'm a douchebag? SO BLOODY WHAT? The point is we as humans hold on to these negativites so much- we literally 'cling' on to them.

An example from my daily life:

'Ahhh Bloody 'ell- I've lost 5 pounds on my oyster card- I didn't tap out... Damnit... Damnit... Damnit!' (Thats me when it happened--->)

And the feeling stays with me the whole day- like an albatross hung around my neck.

'Oh- I got the new job contract- Whoppeee- I start next month!'

And the feeling subsides within 10 minutes... maybe earlier.

So you see? A new job VERSUS five pounds- and the winner is the money loss. Our brains are genetically inclined to ATTACH TO THE NEGATIVE.

I'm no expert- I make tons of mistakes- But I wish to learn. I wish not to be more positive but I surely do wish to be more ATTACHED or INCLINED towards positivity. How can I do that? Well, I'm reflecting on it so thats step 1 on this journey. May the force be with me... with us :-)

I leave you with this final paradigm shift:

Aaron Becks Unholy trinity of Cynicism and Unrealistic expectations:

'I'm no good' VS 'I must succeed'

'The world is bleak' VS 'The world must be easy'

'My future is hopeless' VS 'Everyone treats me so well'

Which side on you are? ... I'm in the middle... Where the 'VS' is... battling and winning- shifting the paradigm to the right.

Onwards ho people.....